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Voters weigh in on gay marriage ban

September 19, 2004|By Items compiled from Tribune news services.

NEW ORLEANS — Early returns indicated strong support among Louisiana voters for a state constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriages and civil unions, one of up to 12 such measures on the ballot across the country this year.

With 4 percent of precincts reporting, 33,255 voters, or 82 percent, supported the amendment versus 7,194, or 18 percent, against. The early count was from throughout the state, but some urban areas, including those in New Orleans, which has a large gay population, had not reported.

Louisiana law already says that marriage can be only between a man and woman, but amendment supporters want it in the constitution. The measure also would prohibit state officials and courts from recognizing out-of-state marriages and civil unions among gay couples.